Speaker at Piedmont Technical College 2025 Fall commencement encourages graduates to stay humble but fearless

Piedmont Technical College (PTC) graduates listened to inspiring speeches before collecting their diplomas during two commencement ceremonies on Dec. 11.

PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers thanked staff members for their efforts to bring Fall 2025 graduation to the Little River Multicultural Complex in Hodges, South Carolina.

“Your dedication and attention to detail truly created an excellent environment for today’s ceremony,” Rivers said. “As many of you know, we are currently expanding the Family Life and Conference Center, our traditional graduation venue, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to that revitalized space when it reopens in 2027.”

Community speaker and PTC alumna Dr. Tracy Pedigo urged graduates to stay humble but fearless.

“Don’t be afraid of the big moments. Don’t be afraid of leadership. Don’t be afraid to make decisions that scare you a little,” he said. “Fear is often the first sign that you’re standing in a place where growth is possible.”

Hailey Willis was the student speaker during the morning commencement ceremony. She spoke about how much she and her classmates had learned at PTC.

“At Piedmont Tech, we’ve learned far more than what was written in our textbooks,” she said. “We learned the value of persistence. We learned how to adapt, especially in a world that changes faster than we can refresh our browsers. We learned to support one another — through group projects that tested our patience, late-night study sessions fueled by coffee, and professors who challenged us to give our very best, even when ‘good enough’ seemed easier.”

Tamara Williams-Teasley was the student speaker during the afternoon commencement ceremony. She emphasized the important role that her classmates played in PTC’s nursing program.

“Along the way, we built friendships that will last a lifetime — we shared countless laughs, many at ourselves, and even more at each other’s creative ways of surviving nursing school,” she said. “Through it all, we never stopped showing up. And that’s what matters.”

PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S DECEMBER 2025 GRADUATES FROM LAURENS COUNTY AND THEIR AREAS OF STUDY ARE LISTED BELOW.

Piedmont Tech shares in the well-deserved pride our graduates feel in their accomplishments. Due to semester and course delivery changes during the 2025 fall semester, some courses and grades are still being finalized. For that reason, names of students who may not meet graduation requirements may be included. Conversely, names of students who will later meet those requirements after publication may be omitted. We regret any embarrassment or inconvenience these ongoing course completions may cause. An official list of all 2025 fall graduates will be maintained by the Student Records Office once all courses and grading have been completed.

LAURENS COUNTY

CLINTON – **Addison Leigh Bledsoe, associate in applied science, major in business administration; Somekia C. Key-Williams, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical concentration; Reisha A. Mccrea, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; Cheyenne Mcgill, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; Alyssa Mackenslie Price, associate in applied science, major in business administration; Harley Ray, associate in applied science, major in business administration, management concentration; and Idalia Villa, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical coding/billing concentration.

CROSS HILL – *Darlene Bell Edwards, certificate in office technician.

GRAY COURT – Tiffany Brooke Harlan, associate in arts; Shannon L. Martin, associate in applied science, major in nursing; Kindra Leigh McClain, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; Kayla Eiff McGaha, associate in applied science, major in business administration, human resources generalist concentration; and Shealy Leighann Werts, associate in applied science, major in nursing.

LAURENS – Elida Andres Manuel, associate in applied science, major in business administration, accounting concentration/certificate in accounting; Journee Blanding, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical concentration; Dylan Ethan Brown, associate in arts; *Carol Candice Brooke Collins, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical concentration; Charles Everett Crowder, associate in applied science, major in computer technology, cybersecurity concentration; Alissa Kay Dawson, associate in applied science, major in business administration; Heidi Hernandez, associate in applied science, major in business administration, accounting concentration/certificate in accounting; Ian S. Hurley, associate in applied science, major in computer technology, programming concentration; Ashlee Patricia Malone, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; *Amy Lauren Philson, associate in applied science, major in cardiovascular technology, adult echocardiography concentration; and *Lillian Sheyenne Pruitt, associate in applied science, major in nursing.

WARE SHOALS – Tonya Michelle Knight, associate in applied science, major in business administration.

WATERLOO – Ashley Kay Brock-Hill, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical coding/billing concentration; and *Lauren Brooke Dotson, associate in applied science, major in cardiovascular technology, invasive concentration.

***Summa Cum Laude-4.0 **Magna Cum Laude-3.75-3.99 *Cum Laude-3.5-3.74